Afghan interpreters 'deserve recognition as much as those who served with a weapon in hand'

Afghan interpreters deserve to be recognised for their service as much as those who served with a weapon in their hand, according to a reservist major who is calling for translators that worked with the British Army to be awarded medals.

Major James Bolter, is a reservist in the Royal Logistic Corps who last year reunited with a former interpreter, Hashmat, with whom he worked in Helmand.

Maj Bolter, alongside a group of British veterans, is calling for all Afghan interpreters to be awarded medals for their service in helping British personnel in the war.

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He said a medal would give those locally-employed Afghan civilians not only an extra level of pride, but would also recognise them as formal veterans with access to benefits within the public services, which he said they deserve.

During the UK's 20-year military presence in the country, more than 2,500 interpreters worked alongside UK servicemen and women.

Many of them risked their, and their families', lives, serving on the frontline amid gun battles, rocket attacks, and improvised bomb explosions.

Maj Bolter said the interpreters he met during the time that he worked with Hashmat were very brave individuals, adding: "Without them, we could not do our job."